Category: Energy Crisis

The oil rich nation of Venezuela is rapidly crumbling, and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight. The country has relied heavily on oil, and the current price drop that has been on-going is taking a massive hit on the Venezuelan economy. Inflation in the country is expected to hit around 720 percent this year, and with food and medicine already becoming scares it’s hard to imagine what more the country can stand to lose.

Expert Danilo Diaz Granados thinks the answer is electricity. Energy rationing is the latest step taken by the Venezuelan government in an effort of conservation. Water levels at Guri reservoir, home to the countries largest and most important hydroelectric dam, are incredibly low and threaten the loss of all power, in order to maintain power longer, the country has implemented rolling blackouts.
While it sounds like a solid solution to maintain electricity for a longer period of time until more rains come and the water levels rise, the citizens of the Venezuela are fed up and at their breaking point.
In Maracaibo, more than 100 people were arrested as they blocked the roads with flaming barricades and began looting shops for food in protest to the blackouts. Other protests were held throughout the country as a response from the people over the controversial measure the government has taken. The blackout also includes cutting over 2 million public sector employees down to a two day work week to help reduce the daytime demand for electricity. People of the country are suspicious of the government and their motives, power blackouts are not happening in the capitol city of Caracas.Now Diaz Grandos shared, along with a failing economy, people out of work and unable to obtain food and medical supplies, the country is facing a political battle. People are pushing to have current president, Maduro, recalled and ousted from power. A coalition has begun the legal process to trigger a presidential election, but due to Maduro’s popularity with the country’s highest court, it is unlikely that he will be unseated.
Information obtained from CBC.